Hey readers, exciting post for you guys today! I am hosting a very special tour stop for Wind Catcher by Jeff and Erynn Altabef! This novel sounds right up my alley. I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I graduated last year with my BA which included a minor in Native American studies. This topic is very close to my heart and I am honored to be hosting this stop today. I'll be sharing some great promo and an awesome exclusive guest post from our authors! Here we go!
Title: Wind Catcher
Author: Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef
Published: March 23rd, 2015
Publisher: Evolved Publishing
Genre: YA, Native American, Fantasy
Juliet Wildfire Stone hears voices and sees visions, but she can’t make out what they mean. Her eccentric grandfather tells her stories about the Great Wind Spirit and Coyote, but he might as well be speaking another language. None of it makes any sense.
When she stumbles upon a series of murders she can’t help but worry her grandfather might be involved. To discover the truth, Juliet must choose between her new life at an elite private school and her Native American heritage. Once she uncovers an ancient secret society formed over two hundred years ago to keep her safe, she starts to wonder whether there’s some truth to those old stories her grandfather has been telling her.
All she wants is to be an average sixteen-year-old girl, but she has never been average—could never be average.
Betrayed by those she loves, she must decide whether to run or risk everything by fulfilling her destiny as the Chosen.
Native
American culture has always fascinated me. It’s extraordinarily rich and
vibrant and different from Western society, yet we never teach much about it in
our schools. It’s crazy when you think about it! I suspect our collective guilt
at the shabby treatment of American Indians is partly to blame for our failure
to recognize their unique way of life.
Erynn
and I first decided to work on Wind Catcher a few years ago while traveling in
Arizona on a summer vacation. The red rock formations and the mysticism
surrounding them mesmerized us. I remember visiting a settlement carved into a
cliff where the inhabitants just vanished one day two hundred years ago.
Historians have no idea why. With so much American Indian history swirling around
us, it was natural to bake those themes into our story. As we researched more
about Native American culture, I fell in love with their world view and their
desire to live in balance with Mother Earth.
Numerous
books write about Native Americans in a historical setting. We wanted to be
different, so we show contemporary Native American characters, themes, and the
prejudices they face today. Even with modern characters, we’ve woven into the
story parts of classic Native American mythology and reveal aspects of their
spirituality along the way. For example, our story draws upon the dark spirit
Coyote, the Great Wind Spirit, and a secret sweat lodge. It’s all very organic
to the plot and serves to deepen the story, making the tale more interesting.
When
writing about another culture, it’s critical to be authentic. Knowing the traps
we faced, we sought out an expert--Ruby Standing Deer who writes terrific
historic Native American fiction. She helped us expand upon and authenticate
our American Indian themes. Hopefully, readers will not only love the
fast-paced story, but they’ll learn a little along the way about a fascinating
culture without noticing it!
*****
About the Author:
Jeff Altabef lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of “telling stories,” he thought he would make it official.
He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. Fourteenth Colony, a political thriller from Tate Publishing, was his debut novel. Evolved Publishing released his second novel, the thriller Shatter Point, in 2014, and will release his young adult fantasy series Chosen, co-written with his daughter Erynn, starting in the spring of 2015.
Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing, and a blog designed to encourage writing by those that like telling stories. You can find his blog, The Accidental Writers’ Workshop, on The Chappaqua-MountKisco Patch, via the link under the “Contact” tab above. You’ll also find under that tab ways to join with Jeff in various social media venues.
About the Author:
Erynn Altabef is an avid reader, dancer, and community activist. When she’s not in High School, she loves Starbucks, performing in school musicals, baking, and watching movies with her friends.
Some of her favorite authors are Veronica Roth, Joelle Charbonneau, and her dad! (That would be Jeff Altabef.)
Giveaway Details:
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
- Signed print copy of Wind Catcher & Bracelet
Giveaway is US only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Wind Catcher! Be sure to enter the giveaway and add this one to your TBRs, I know I sure will be! Thanks so much for stopping by and to the awesome team at Juniper Grove Book Solutions for allowing me to participate. Until next time, Happy Reading!
-Ethan
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